UN: 32000 new Darfur refugees since 10 Dec.

The United Nations said that the number of people displaced by the bloody battles which began on 10 December in the areas of Khor Abeche, Shearia and Shangil Tobayi left 32000 people displaced. There are 14000 refugees within the area in and around Shangil Tobaya itself, according to the UN peacekeeping mission.Humanitarian teams reached Shangil Tobaya only yesterday, by air and by road, delivering food, medical supplies and non-food items to 5000 refugees sheltered outside the UNAMID team site. The distribution of aid in Khor Abeche in South Darfur begins today, with the assistance of UN Country Team representatives, IDP leaders and a local non-governmental organization.

“A long-range relief convoy left El Fasher by road today and made its first stop in Shangil Tobaya. In the coming days, it is planned to reach Jebel Tin and Dar al-Salam. Another road convoy carrying 100 tons of food is expected to leave Nyala for Khor Abeche within the next few days,” announced the UN – African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) in a press statement.

There are also around 277 families who fled from fighting to the UNAMID site at Shearea. Their situation is poor, according to witnesses. They are living out in the open by the wall of the Mission site without shelter or food. One of the leaders of the newly displaced people told Radio Dabanga said that some of the aid organizations provided non-food items for about 31 families.